Just us.

9. I saw you

Charlotte spent the most of Sunday morning cleaning as she had planned to meet Sorscha and her wife Clodagh today.

Just as she is finishing up the dishes, the doorbell rings
"I'll get it mum!" Ellie shouts from the living room. She goes to open the door as Charlotte dries off her hands in the kitchen.

"Hiya Ellie" Sorscha beams
"Hi! Come in"
"Hey guys, how are you?" Charlotte greets the couple
"We're great, thank you"
"How's the baby?" Ellie asks
"Aw little one's doing grand" Clodagh gently lays her hand on her stomach.

Sorscha and Clodagh meet Charlotte and the girls regularly. She loves how well they get along with her kids, especially Clodagh and Ellie. Since the couple decided to become parents, they have definitely bonded with Charlotte more.

"Ellie, how's that book seeming so far?" Clodagh asks. She had given a few books to Ellie for her to try out
"It's great. I actually have something to show you"
"Lead the way" Clodagh follows Ellie upstairs leaving Charlotte and Sorscha alone in the living room.

"So Charlie, how've ye been?"
"We're okay, I'm coming back to the Nursery tomorrow"
"Grand. Winter's been drivin me nuts! Where's Isla?"
"Sleeping"
"Ah thought it was quiet" she jokes which makes Charlotte laugh.

...

Clodagh and Ellie are sat on her bed talking about the book she was reading.

"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course lovely, what is it?" The woman could tell that something was bothering the girl. She started to fiddle with her hands and avoid her gaze, hesitant to ask her question
"Well... um, when did you know?"
"Know what, sweetheart?"
"Like... did you always like girls?" Clodagh will admit she was taken back by the question,
"Yeah, I think I did always know I like girls" she pauses, "Darling, do you think you might like girls?"
"What? No! Not me... someone else"
"Okay. Well, this friend of yours. Is she thinking about liking girls and not boys?" Ellie looks up at her, trying not to give too much away about her concerns
"She likes boys. Or did anyway. But now I don't know if she does anymore. Can you do that?"
"It's always okay to change your mind, darling. It's also okay to like girls and boys" Ellie nods, taking in the information "do you have any more questions?"
"Um... I don't think so"
"Okay. Well if you or your friend has any more questions, you can always come to me"
"Thanks. Oh, one more thing"
"What's that?" She smiles
"Can you not tell mum about this? I just... um-"
"Don't worry sweetheart, I won't tell her a thing"

...

After Isla wakes up, the five go outside so the adults can talk while the kids play. Clodagh makes sure to keep an eye on Ellie as she wonders what might be going through her mind.

Knowing that she came to her about her questions was heart warming, as she didn't have a trusted adult to confine in at that age. She was going to keep her word and let her speak to her mother when she is ready, but that didn't stop her wife from noticing something was on her mind.

"You okay babe?"
"Yeah, just thinking" she leans in to kiss her wife as Sorscha places her hand on her stomach.

Ellie wasn't the only one who felt like she could use some advice. Charlotte thought about talking to Sorscha about her current situation regarding Mia.

Charlotte knew she liked Mia. She knew that every touch made butterflies go crazy in her stomach and when she kissed her, it felt electric. It was something that she would replay in her head over and over again. She knew that she felt happy and safe in Mia's presence. What she didn't know was why. Or what this meant. She didn't understand how she could possibly feel this way. Especially about Mia.

She wasn't supposed to like Mia. She is a bad person who has done horrible things to her friends. Except when she was around her, Mia wasn't like that at all. Charlotte didn't feel like she knew that Mia at all. Just heard about her. The Mia Charlotte knew was confident and determined but also caring and loving. Charlotte felt safe and seen and understood around her. And when she wasn't, it was lonely.

Charlotte still needed to come clean about her separation. Sorscha and Clodagh didn't ask about her husband as they know he works most weekends but Charlotte needed to tell them eventually. She just didn't know if she was ready yet.

"Mummy can we stay here tomorrow? I don't want to go back to daddys just yet" and just like that, Isla did it for her. Charlotte smiles at her daughter
"Daddy wants to see you too baby, and I'll be at work tomorrow" she reminds her before turning to face the now confused couple "Uh, Nathan and I, we're separating"
"Separating? Charlie why didn't you say anything?"
"I was just, waiting until I was ready" 'and here comes the sympathy' Charlotte thought. It's not that Charlotte didn't mind, of course she knew that her friends were just looking out for her. She was just so tired of being the wife going through a divorce. Especially at her kids school.

"I'm sorry Charlotte, if there's anything we can do" Clodagh smiles
"Thank you. I'm actually okay now. I just needed to process it all"
"Does Marjorie know?"
"No one does" except Mia. "I was going to tell her this week but she's gone on holiday, hasn't she? Carly said her and Reece are taking a trip"
"Yeah, yeah she has" Marjorie and Reece was supposed to be gone for two weeks, and Charlotte didn't really want to talk about her situation over the phone.

...

Charlotte had just put Isla to bed after Sorscha and Clodagh left. She walks into her eldest daughter's bedroom to see her sat in bed reading.

"Hey sweetheart, are you okay?"
"Hi mum" Charlotte can see that something is bothering Ellie,
"Sweetheart, what's on your mind?"
"Nothing... well, I'm just worried about you"
"Oh darling, there's nothing to worry about. Is this because of me and your dad?" Charlotte hadn't really explained much to her kids. They were told that their dad was going to live somewhere else but they will still see him and nothing has changed. Both of their parents love them deeply and Charlotte made sure they know that won't change.

"Not you and dad. You and... Mia"
"Mia? What are you-"
"Mum" Ellie interrupts with a serious tone "I saw you"